'Johnnies Make a Dash' in Civil War program - Oct. 11

photo A cannon is shown at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.

It was a gamble to say the least, sneaking up on Confederates to open a vital supply line to a starving Union army in Chattanooga. In the early morning hours of Oct. 27, 1863, more than 1,000 blue-clad soldiers silently floated down the Tennessee River toward Brown's Ferry, an important river crossing guarded by Confederates. Then, masked by the darkness and fog, Union soldiers made landfall.

What happened next will be related by a ranger from the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park in a free walking tour Saturday, Oct. 11. The two-hour outing, called "The Johnnies Make a Dash: Opening the Cracker Line," will focus on this crucial Civil War story associated with Moccasin Bend. The 1.5-mile walk will begin at 1:30 p.m. at the Brown's Ferry Federal Road trailhead off Pineville Road. "Special Event" signs will begin on Manufacturers Road to direct participants to the site.

Comfortable, supportive, wet-weather footwear, clothing appropriate for the weather and water are recommended for this program.

For more information, call 706-866-9241, 423-821-7786 or visit www.nps.gov/chch.

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